Duck Numbers Up The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released its preliminary report on western breeding ducks and habitats, based on surveys conducted in May. Overall duck populations increased 14 percent from last year, highlighted by an 8 percent increase in mallards and a 32 percent in pintails. An estimated 36.2 million breeding ducks are talking advantage of habitat conditions that are improved from last year, thanks to a warm winter and good precipitation. See the news release from Ducks Unlimited.